Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elias Hinojosa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Elias, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I’ve always lived by a mantra of sorts. A self-prescribed medicinal verbiage that actively expands my worldview and keeps me at the behest of life, chance and fate:
A little risk, only heightens the thrill…
Now, that doesn’t mean I strive to be reckless or rebellious, I use risk with precision… creatively…. purposefully. My risk-taking tendencies are not mastered skills, but carefully curated experiences I deem worthwhile to the movie that is my life. Risk thickens the plot. Raises the stakes. Sweetens the deal. With risk comes an inherent curiosity, a bold pursuit of truth… a truth that shines in the face of adversity… and conformity.
I chase bold choices, and gravitate to projects that go against-the-grain. Stories and people who excite, enrage and enlighten. People and places that ignite a free-flow of inspiration that speaks to me and my journey in this tumultuous world. I believe the karmic power of individualism can attract the perfect cast of characters for your life’s story. Being authentic and independent is a risk worth taking. Nothing scares me more than monotony. With a little risk, the ending will always be a surprise. Live the life, roll the dice.
I seek sensation, in healthy creative ways that feed my purpose. As a filmmaker, I tend to blend psychology with genre in order to answer existential questions I subconsciously suppress. The artform has morphed into a psychological tool to combat my anxieties and fears. Mental health is always at the core of my characters, because they are reflections of myself. Filmmaking for me, is therapeutic. Cathartic. As an actor, I approach characters from an honest place, free from stigma or shame. I try to maintain an element of surprise with everything I do. Spontaneity is key to an enlightened experience… whether it be out in the wild, or captured for the camera.
I pursue profound personal growth through adventure, adaptation and resilience… some may call it risk.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My story starts in Texas at the southernmost tip along the Rio Grande river, on the border of Mexico… *Snake rattle*
Tejano. Culture Vulture. I grew up an oddball, an old soul. A Gemini raised by a single-mom Leo. As a child, I bore witness to domestic violence, divorce and incarceration. In grade school, I braved bullies of all ages. I was a small effeminate bookworm obsessed with witches, tall tales and James Bond. I dressed as Roald Dahl for Halloween and would recite monologues in public without warning. I spoke in different accents and worshiped storybook illustrations from The Brothers Grimm and L. Frank Baum. I dreamt of conjuring up my own realms to escape to. It’s safe to say I wasn’t exactly embraced by the machismo culture of my hometown, but at my core, I didn’t need to be. My defiant, independent momma instilled in me a certain… attitude. I stood firm forth my shadow, embraced my curious creative convictions and have pursued a life of fearless inspiration ever since.
In my teens, I gravitated to films by directors with similar sensibilities as my own. I deeply admire John Waters and his brazen spirit, his subversive satire and clever critiques of society. I revere David Lynch and his risky narratives in pursuit of dream-like truths. Jodorowsky’s bold abstract surrealism. Tarantino’s daring experiments with genre. Argento’s sharp slick undeniable style. I fortified myself with an arsenal of storypower and vivid visions, on a quest to create my own. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin’s film school, where Matthew McConaughey was a professor, I followed my manifest’s destiny to Los Angeles: The pulse of pop culture. My directorial debut ‘Lullaby’ screened at SXSW 2018. My sophomore effort, ‘Widow’ is a psychological experiment starring my actual abuela. My most recent work, ‘All-Nighter’, in which I also star, had its LA premiere at Screamfest 2023.
As of late, I’ve been expanding my storyverse and taking carefully curated risks; collaborating with cool cats and gearing up for exciting new adventures, like my first feature-length film. No silver spoon here, everything I do comes from a place of passion, purpose and survival. I am a 26 year old complicated creature who tells stories as a way to answer life’s impossible questions. I try to understand the inconceivable and create worlds where outcasts, oddballs and misfit toys can reign supreme.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Resources… Identify them. Look around you. What strikes you? Who inspires you? Follow the breadcrumbs. Chase after the white rabbit and discover the fantasy inside your reality. There’s no place like home.
Challenges… Seek them. What grinds your gears? Anything keeping you from expanding your worldview? Maybe a phobia stifling personal growth? Surround yourself with people who provoke and places that ponder. Explore courageously and learn with risk, not reward.
Perspective… Never leave home without it. What is your angle? In a world of black and white, what is your shade of gray? A distinctive point-of-view can illuminate the darkest of corners and unveil universal truths.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
Truth or Dare? Always dare to seek your truth. Trust your instincts and ignite your intuition. As a man who wears many hats, I do find value in investing in yourself and strengthening more than one trade.
I present to you, my origin story… In the midst of anxious adolescence, when I first began to embrace risk… I dove headfirst into the world of theatre, portraying brooding souls like Sweeney Todd and Dr. Jekyll. Our performances kicked ass when it came to competition. We elbowed our way to state finals twice, winning multiple awards, defeating affluent schools with double our budget… but our community didn’t care. Our local shows in bordertown Texas did not attract the audiences we thought we deserved. Meanwhile, the football team couldn’t make it out of district prelims, yet their games were always at capacity. I began to ask myself what could be done… to fill our seats… to prove to our small Tejano town that the arts were worth investing in. I quickly realized I needed to take initiative; I began creating “movie trailers” of our plays… gathered different recordings, stitched together compelling previews and spread them throughout early versions of social media. I learned how to translate stage to screen while reaching a target audience… and it worked. Our shows started to sell out, we started to finally feel respected as storytellers, and I discovered my knack for filmmaking.
Champion effort into your instincts, go against the grain and follow your own siren song.
Contact Info:
- Website: eliashinojosa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3liashinojosa/
Image Credits
Andrej Gooner
